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Comment by PaulKeeble | Hacker News Reader

Two ways.

1) Set up a pihole or ad guard or similar and block the requests the device makes. You can probably find someones list or it may already be in the default one.

2) Put all the IOT's devices into a virtual wifi lan that doesn't by default doesn't allow internet access. Then only add in the few places you want them to be able to get to. In general putting IOT devices on a network separate from your real computers is a good idea for isolation anyway since they are likely to have poor security.

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Assuming the device doesn't have its own modem and internet connection integrated.

Yup. That's my worry - I can block them now, but what do I do when all these devices have their own "WhisperNet"?

Get your own femtocell.

So like Sidewalk...

For that to happen, the value of the data it extracts would have to be greater than the cost of installing and paying for a cellular modem and the data fees over its lifetime.

I think most of us aren't worth it, as it would take away from the upfront profit of the machine to add features people aren't told about just to get a few years of "Subject opened left door. Temp 39 degrees. Subject used ice maker." or whatever.

I think you're underestimating how cheaply a manufacturer could negotiate a one time fee low bandwidth 5G connection for. If it's setup to only upload in off peak hours it's going to just be free money for wireless carriers. Maybe they'll double dip and buy the data for themselves as well.

I even saw the newer broadcast TV standard was going to have 2 way communication for ad tech.

And that the device is incapable of recognising the lack of Internet access and connect to your neighbour open network instead.

Not necessary. When not connected for more than a month, a device gets declared insecure and stops its core function or gets annoying until you allow it on the network again. Downloading new firmware is only possible by uploading metrics, and provides all kinds of new 'experiences' of course.

In 2 years, a standard fridge will start blinking its inside lights and show 'error' on the temperature display if you don't let it connect.

If it runs on the their network network and not mine, then any activity will be tied to their IP and the incorrectly correlated with their usage.

So - my privacy stays intact as long as I don't link the device ID with my name or personal details (review that warranty card before sending in, does it have unique ID? watermark/non-visible tag) - hmmm, this sounds like a bonus - I get the "smart" features and don't have to worry...

Amazon sidewalk and similar will be selling zero config and out-of-consumer-control access to devices with a few years.

Having to neuter devices is going to become more and more common...

Pi-Hole with a good collection of block lists is a great option. My samsung TV and a few android devices are the top offenders on my pi-hole admin panel.

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